Catechism Questions 1 and 2

Baptist Catechism Question #1 and 2:

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings?

Answer 1: God is the first and best of beings

Question 2: What is the chief end of man?

Answer 2: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

On this first question we are going to be focusing on why and how God is the first and best of beings.

In the bible everything begins with God.

Genesis 1:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I would say that is a pretty straight forward statement.

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Right off the bat some people love to argue creation whether it be the big bang, evolution etc when in reality God is the first being and not only did he create everything he has total authority, control and knowledge of everything and everybody before time as we know it existed.

Understanding origins in the book of Genesis is foundational to the rest of the Bible.

If Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2 don’t tell us the truth, then why should we believe anything else in the Bible?

Either you believe that God did create the heavens and the earth or you believe He did not. Really those are the only two valid options you have. And that fact that God did create the heavens and the earth that should cement himself as the GOAT right?

Everything that exists, exists in one of these categories: time, force, action, space, and matter…. Except for God. God exists outside of time, space, matter etc.

The thing is we live in a world that thinks each individual is totally autonomous. That we each have the right and condition of self government:

I know what's best for me

I know my truth

Job 23:13

13 But He is unique and who can turn Him?

And what His soul desires, that He does.

Isaiah 43:13

13 Even [a]from eternity I am He,

And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;

I act and who can reverse it?”

Psalm 147:5

5 Great is our Lord and abundant in power;

His discernment is [a]infinite.

Meaning the ability to judge

The Lord is absolute:

His attributes possess the highest possible degree of perfection

God’s attributes and actions set the standard for all other beings

God is self existent and self sufficient

God is a speaking God. He is a personable God. He is not mute like the idols.

The Lord is Transcendent:

-Definition: beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.

God’s transcendence means that he is “up there” and his immanence means he is also “down here”.

- The concept of transcendence builds on the biblical text that describes God as “most high”.

The Lord is Immanent:

- Is another word for omnipresence

- Refers to his presence in the world

- What is God’s presence in the world? Everywhere at all times with everyone.

- There is nowhere that you can go, nothing you can't think that God does not already know.

We are to understand God’s Lordship in 3 parts: ( and by Lordship I mean supreme power)

1. Control

2. Authority

3. Presence

So God controls the entire course of nature and history for his own glory and to accomplish his own purposes.

God also has complete authority over everything and everybody.

BUT Michael, wait what is the difference between Control and Authority? Great Question.

Control means that God has the power to direct the entire course of nature and history and Authority means he has the right to do it.

Deuteronomy 32:39:

39 See now that I, I am He,

And there is no god besides Me;

It is I who put to death and give life.

I have wounded, and it is I who heal,

And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

He has total control.

Authority:

Like I said before, authority means that he has the right to do whatever he wants

God distinguishes himself between the false Gods in that he is able to tell the future. He has the authority to foretell the future because he is in control of everything in heaven and earth.

God’s sovereign authority is an aspect of his lordship. He alone will reveal his nature.

In a way his authority is absolute. We are to have no other Gods before the Lord

Exodus 20:3

3 “You shall have no other gods [a]before Me.

There should be no competing loyalties

Deuteronomy 6:4-5:

4 “Hear, O Israel! [a]Yahweh is our God, Yahweh is one! 5 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

No other authority may compete with God’s own words.

Presence:

God is omnipresent. Meaning he is everywhere, with everyone at all times.

God’s presence is a presence of divine control and authority.

God is present to us in covenants or God’s role in a relationship with us.

This is how we are to be loyal to God

The most often mentioned covenant is the one between God and the people of Israel. This was made after God had delivered them from Egypt and had gathered them to worship him on Mount Sinai (Mosaic Covenant).

START Question #2

In order for us to glorify God we need to know God and one way that we are able to do that is in times of  prayer and private bible reading time.

We were created to glorify God.

How are we supposed to know God if we don't have an active relationship with him?

So we are going to dive into 3 main points on glorifying God and enjoying him forever.

3 Applications from Today's Lesson:

*What is Your relationship like with God? (Matthew 4:4)

Do your actions emulate God’s Commandments?

Elimination of one’s self (Acts 3, Epistles,

Honoring and trusting God (Romans 4:20, 1 John 5:10)

*Fruitfulness (John 15:8, Matthew 13:18-23, 1 John 2:19), Paul —> Timothy and Titus, etc

Praising him (Psalm 50:23)

*Taking up your cross daily (Matthew 10:38, 16:24-28)

So before we get into this the only way to glorify God is to actually repent from your sins and turn to Christ.

There is nothing that you can do as a nonbeliever that can glorify God.

You cannot EARN your way to Heaven. So let's get that out of the way now. The only way you can glorify God is if you repent from your sins and turn towards Christ.

If you have questions about your faith, if you have not yet turned your heart towards God please come talk to us leaders.

BUT if you have already turned your heart away from sin and towards Christ then you are called to follow God’s word and his laws.

Like we’ve discussed in:

James 2

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that [o]God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

What is your relationship like with God?

How can we glorify God if we don't know him? The best and only way for you to get to know him is if you are reading his word and our only way of communication with him is in prayer.

Prayer life and your private bible reading time are going to be your big tenants of growing your relationship with God.

And I say private because that is a time that YOU have set aside to spend with God. Yes it is important to do family, prayers, bible readings with friends and family, but when do you set aside time to pray and communicate with God by yourself, when do you set time aside to read His word in silence.

There is just something special about studying the Word of God! It literally fills your soul and heart. In a sense it is a way to refuel your soul. The feeling of being by yourself, praying and then opening your bible and immersing yourself in God’s word. There are times when I might have rushed out of the house early, working with clients at random times of the day and I forgot to take my usual time to spend time with God and I would feel this empty feeling in my heart. Food can replenish the energy of this world, but only the word of God can replenish the energy of our hearts and souls.

(Matthew 4:1-4 Insert)

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He [a]then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

The first part of these verses is about temptation:

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He [a]then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

One thing we have to remember is that God is never going to facilitate temptation but he can and does use evil to serve his sovereign purposes.

James 1:13:

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted [a]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [b]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

This world is always going to try and take you away from God. It is always going to be filled with worldly delights and here is the thing if you are a true believer and a follower of Christ those temptations ARE going to come. That is a 100% guarantee. It doesn't matter how long you’ve been a believer, how frequent you go to church or who your family is. The world is going to try and tempt you away from following God.

But in the verse number 4 Jesus answers:

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

So once again I’ll ask what is your relationship like with God?

Silent poll: how many of you guys spend more than one hour per day doing a combination of sport or band practice, playing video games, on youtube, instagram, tik tok etc… Now how about two hours per day…..what about three hours per day?

Let's talk about prayer and bible reading time… 10 minutes per day…15 minutes per day?.... 30 minutes per day?..... Getting wild now….45 minutes per day.

How can we expect to have a strong relationship with God, glorify God and enjoy God if we don’t know him?

2. Fruitfulness:

As believers we are to be fruitful, we are to disciple, we are to bring the Word of God to others, we are to bring glory to God by being fruitful. What an amazing way to glorify God by spreading his word and helping and leading others to him.

In Matthew 13 with the parable of the sower:

Matthew 13:18-23

8 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he [a]falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the [b]world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

The message of how to enter God’s Kingdom i.e. the Gospel. The Gospel will never penetrate these people’s souls. They listen to the word, but do not hear it.

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

There are so many people, friends and family that I have  invited to come to Capital multiple times, have listened to the sermons and when I ask what did you think of the message? Their response every time. “It was a good message, I really liked it.” What did you like about it? “Just the overall message.” They listen, but it doesn’t penetrate their hearts.

Some people make an emotional, superficial commitment to salvation in Christ, but it is not real. Like the rocky soil. They remain interested only until there is a sacrificial price to pay, and then they abandon Christ.

20 And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he [a]falls away.

There are some people that make superficial commitments without true repentance. They can’t break with the love of money and the world. These are people that are sown among the thorns.

22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the [b]world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Lastly, the fourth soil, the true believers:

23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Notice that the first three soils bore no fruit. Since there is no fruit there is no salvation. Not all believers are going to be equally fruitful, but all are fruitful

I get it a lot of you guys are younger, either in middle school or high school and are probably like dude we are too young to have any fruit. Well, I'm going to challenge you a little bit. You guys have brothers and sisters yeah? What a great opportunity to talk with your siblings about their walk with Christ. It can be as simple as asking them: “How is your walk with God going?”

A lot of you probably have friends that have not heard the true word of God. What a great opportunity and it is TOUGH. I get it, but what a great way to glorify God, but telling people how HE has worked in your life and how he has changed your heart.

John 15:1-8

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [c]prove to be My disciples.

Just as we heard in Matthew 13 in John 15 Jesus uses agricultural imagery to describe the Christian life. He identifies himself as the “true vine” and God as the “vinedresser” or the caretaker. The vine has two types of branches: The vine that bears fruit and the vine that doesn’t. The vine’s purpose of existence is to produce fruit. What happens if it doesn’t produce fruit…. It is thrown away.

3. Taking Up Your Cross Daily

As you get older in life your cross is going to change, but as humans we are always going to have that cross. No one is above that. We are either going to carry our cross and walk with Christ or we aren't.

Matthew 10:38-39

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his [e]life will lose it, and he who has lost his [f]life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16:24-28

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his [a]life will lose it; but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then [c]repay each one according to his[d]deeds.

28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Such loyalty may lead to cross-bearing literally or metaphorically, but those who lose their lives for Christ will gain eternal life. These texts scream commitment, self denial and dedication.

Are you willing to deny yourself? There have been times when we haven't been, let's be honest. When you didn't deny yourself? Did you have that sense of guilt? Did you have that sense of being unsettled or did you not think twice about it?

Are you willing to dedicate yourself to Christ 100%? That’s what we are called to do. It’s not 50% or 75% or 99% it's 100%.

We all have a cross to bear it could be lust and envy (The world is full of temptation in that department)

It could be Pride, ego and greed ( Nowadays everyone thinks they are better than everyone

There always have been and always will be people that say they are followers of Christ and these passages focus on how genuine that person actually is. That is the difference between a true disciple of Christ and a fake one and once again this is going to go back to the parable of the sower. Where is the fruit? Genuine faith will have fruit. False faith will not.

The question I want to ask is as middle and high school students what does that look like? What does carrying your cross look daily look like?

(Take Answers)

Here is the thing. As believers in Christ you are going to be challenged. There is going to come a time when you are going to either carry your cross and walk with Christ or you’re not. It is that simple.

As believers and followers of Christ we should always be thinking how we can glorify God and how we can strengthen our relationship with God.